Modest Monday

              I have been reading the Modest Mom Blog for two years now. I have wanted to post a what-I-wore-type picture on the Modest Monday Link Up, but I am always on the other side of the camera. The side that includes phrases like, “Look at Mama!” “Put that down!” “Get your finger out of your nose, please!”

                Sunday morning I had to have a picture of my little crew all ready for church. This was baby sister’s first Sunday at church, and I had to commemorate it. (She was 1 month old on Saturday! I can hardly believe that much time has flown by already.) My husband wanted to take a picture of me with the kids as well, and I thought, “Hey, I could use this for Modest Monday!”

                My outfit consisted of what I could piece together in the closet that actually fit. I’m at that awkward point where my maternity clothes are too big and my regular clothes are too small. My skirt is a long black skirt that I bought from JcPenney several years ago. My tank is from Kohl’s and the white cardigan from Target. I’m wearing a Halftee tank underneath because the neckline is a little lower than I am comfortable with. I knew everyone would be stopping by our pew to see the baby after church and didn’t want them getting a peak as well.

                It’s definitely a snapshot. The look on my middle child’s face is priceless. It looks mischievous just like him. It kind of looks like he’s hiding a frog in his pocket, too.  I feel like my children need little captions by their heads.

Baby Girl: “Ooo! I have fingers!”

Batman: “I love my helicopter.”

Thor: “Ask me what’s in my pocket.”

                One day I will sit down and write a post on what modesty means to me and about the blessed birth of Baby Girl, but for now I’m going to call it a day for blogging and start another load of laundry while she naps. That way when she wakes, I can spend that time holding her!

 

DVD Choices for Young Boys

     We are a tv watching family. There I said it. I know a lot of families are anti-tv and make it perfectly fine without one. We, however, are not one of those families. TV is a big form of entertainment for all of us.

    However, there is a lot of garbage on tv, and I am picky about what we watch.  My 4 year old does not have free range over the remote. He's 4. He's not mature enough to make a wise, moral decision about what to watch. (Let's face it. A lot of 34 year olds aren't mature enough to make a good decision.) Therefore, I like to provide him with options that are entertaining to him but also offer a spiritual lesson.

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         We recently discovered "Angel Wars", and my 4 year old son LOVES it! It really gives him his Star Wars kicks without watching Yoda and Anakin for the millioneth time. These angels wear cool armor and use neat weapons to fight the evil that came from the fallen angels. It's not too violent and provides a good message to boys about fighting for good versus evil.

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     We have always loved Veggie Tales, but this new tale really takes the cake in our house! Both of my boys love superheroes. They can both spot someone in a Spiderman or Batman t-shirt from 100 yards. However, you really have to be careful with the mainstream superhero cartoons. Most are not targeted for the kindergarten demographic, and some of them are just so "dark" that I wouldn't really even want my husband to watch them.

     The League of Incredible Vegetables provides superhero style entertainment with a strong Christian message. Junior Asparagus is a huge fan of the League and becomes a junior member. When a bad guy comes into town and captures the League, it's up to him to save the day. The Alfred-type mentor teaches Junior (through another catchy Veggie Tales song) that he can't put trust in himself or even superheroes. He must trust in God.



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     3-2-1 Penguins is a really cool animated series put out by the makers of Veggie Tales. I'd say this show is more boy oriented though. Each episode involves twin brother and sister, Jason and Michelle, who are having some sort of struggle (sharing, caring for others, laziness, etc). They are friends with these astronaut penguins and end up sorting out their problem via an adventure with those guys. Every episode quotes a Proverb that relates to their problem, and they end up back at home saying their prayers before bedtime.

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     Bo on the Go is a really neat little show that gets your kids moving and exercising. Apparently it's a Canadian show, and I don't think it's available on DVD. My boys watch it on streaming Netflix and really enjoy it. There's no Christian message underlined in the show, but it's a nice add-in to get rid of some of that little boy energy.


     My list would obviously be for moms of kindergarten to early elementary aged boys. As they get older, I plan to provide them with more age appropriate choices such as the Narnia movies and choices that would not be hindering to their spiritual health.

My Prayer for My Daughter

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     I haven't posted in about 2 months, and during that time, we received very exciting news. It's a girl! I never expected the ultrasound tech to say those words. We have 2 boys. My husband is 1 of 3 boys. His dad is 1 of 5 boys. You get the idea. A girl was unexpected! But very welcome!

 

     The first thing I've done in all three pregnancies from the time we find out I'm pregnant is to pray for the child. Now that we know we are having a girl, my prayers are much different than they were with my boys!

     The most important thing any parent could pray for their child is that they will accept Jesus at a young age and be saved. I pray that my daughter and sons will answer Him the first time the Holy Spirit tugs at their hearts and live their lives with the desire to follow His will.

     I pray that she will be ladylike and feminine. I often think of the older ladies I know who are nearing the ends of their lives and of those who have already passed on and wonder who's going to take their place. It seems to be an insult to most to be called a lady nowadays. Most women want to be seen as being strong as any man. I pray my daughter will embrace her femininity. I pray for myself that I will be a good mentor in this area of her life!

     I pray that she will desire to be a homemaker. I hope she will find joy in maintaining her home in the physical and emotional sense and that she will be fulfilled by these things, not seeking fulfillment in a career outside the home. I truly love my role as keeper of the home and pray she (and my boys) will always be able to see that.

     I pray that she will be discreet. What is it with loud mouthed women? I can't really think of anything worse in a social setting than being stuck with a woman who has no filter on her mouth. One who seems to think she needs to be loud, rude, and say everything that pops into her head. There is nothing discreet about her. I have seen husbands embarassed by their wives' mouths many times.  I pray that my daughter never be one of those women. That she will understand the strength and beauty in knowing when to keep her thoughts to herself.

     I pray that she will desire to be a mother. I pray that her greatest joy in life will be raising children to fear the Lord. That she will want them at home with her to guard and train.

     I pray that she wait on the Lord to send her a Christian husband. I dated when I was a teenager and can vouch for the scars it leaves behind. I even almost fell into a marriage that would have definitely been miserable. I knew from the moment I said "yes" that it was not what God wanted for me. So many divorces could have been prevented if the couple had just waited on the Lord to bring them their spouse instead of going out and looking for him/her. I knew from the moment my husband and I started dating that it was "right", but how much pain could I have saved myself if I had waited patiently for Lord to bring him into my life? I pray that she will wait on God and enter marriage with her heart "unscarred".

     My list could go on and on! I truly believe the prayers we send up for our children make a big difference in shaping their lives. Of course, we can't merely pray for them and sit back and do nothing. I know that I have a huge responsibility ahead of me! I cannot expect her to be any of the things I desire for her if I don't first model it for her everyday. I am so far from perfect in so many aspects. I am so thankful for a merciful God who forgives me time and time again when I fail and pray that my children will see past my faults as well and see a mother who loves them so very much.



 

 



   

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

     Yay! I'm finally writing my first recipe post!

     Everytime I think about doing one, I forget to take any pictures of the food until it's half eaten.

     I found this recipe over at Life as a Lofthouse a while back and pinned it to my dessert Pinterest board but never got around to trying it. I am so glad I finally did! This will be my new go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe.

     These were the perfect soft cookie. Cookies always seem to turn out too crunchy for my liking, or they seem underbaked. I was really skeptical about the bake time because they did not look done but went with it anyway. The bake time was spot on.

     These are in no way a healthy cookie recipe. They are simply indulgent. 

     Here's the link to the original because I can't claim any creative genius behind it: orignal recipe.



     Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies (yields approximately 36 cookies)

•      1 cup (2sticks) butter, softened
•      3/4 cup brown sugar
•      1/4 cup white sugar
•      1 small pkg instant vanilla pudding
•      2 eggs
•      1 tsp vanilla extract
•      2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
•      1 tsp baking soda
•      1 pkg 12 oz milk chocolate chips (I substituted semisweet & they were fabulous.)

(My cast of characters. I forgot the baking soda for the picture.)

     Directions:
     Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat the butter, sugars, pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy. Slowly mix in flour and baking soda. Stir in chocolate chips.
     Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for only 9-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Enjoy!

 

Teaching Children to Give

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 It's almost that time of year again! My absolute favorite time of year is just around the corner. That means decorations, baking tons of sweets, and listening to Christmas music. It also means a time to give to those who are less fortunate.

     There are so many ways to help people especially around Christmas. Operation Christmas Child and The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program are two that are really dear to me. Both require some leg work with the shopping that needs to be done for them but are totally work the effort that you put in.
    
     Most of us know about Operation Christmas Child and their shoe box program. I'm not sure if the Angel Tree is a nationwide program or more regional. Low income families apply with the Salvation Army during the fall for their child/children to be placed on the Angel Tree, which are Christmas trees placed in different locations with tags with a child's name on it. The tags list the child's age, clothing sizes, and a toy wish. You choose a child's angel tag and buy his or her presents, preferably a suit of clothes, a pair of shoes, and a toy. The Salvation Army then delivers your gift to the child's parents to give them on Christmas. These are children who may not get any other gift if other's don't help. Their parents have provided proof that they probably won't be able to.

     It has been very important to me to "adopt" some of these angels at Christmas time ever since I discovered the program right after my husband and I were married several 6 years ago. I cannot imagine how it must feel as a parent to know you probably can't provide your child with a gift like everyone else and then how it must feel to have a total stranger buy for your child. I believe it must be a bigger blessing for the parents than the children.

     It is also very important to me to teach my children to be charitable and to give to others in need. I want them to learn to give in Christ's name and for His glory not for any benefit or praise of their own. I want them to learn to give cheerfully not because they feel it is necessary.

     "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" Matthew 6: 3&4

 

     "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. 9:7



 

     Teaching a young child to give can be a struggle. It is not in our nature to want to give what we have away. I have prayed since I was expecting my first son that my children wouldn't be selfish, but it's there in all of us. It is human nature to be selfish.

 

     I have been trying to prepare my oldest son who is 4 for what we are going to be doing in the next month or so. I have learned that with anything new we do it is best to talk to him about it a lot and try my best to prepare him for the new situation. We will be doing a lot of shopping for the items for the shoeboxes and also a lot of shopping for the toys that will be gifts for the Angel Tree children. I keep telling him that we are going to buy toys for some little boys and girls for Christmas presents so they won't be sad at Christmas. I keep repeating to him that he is really blessed because Mama and Daddy can buy him presents but some moms and dads can't so we are going to try to help them. He nods and usually repeats some of what I say back to me.

 

     However, the hard part is going to come when we are actually in a store picking up a new toy and excepting that it is not for him. He is not used to getting a toy every time we go to the store. I have made it a point not to make that a habit. When something grabs his attention, I say something like, "Wow. I see. That's really neat, huh?" and we keep walking. He is used to that, but I know it will be a little different when I am actually putting toys into the cart and trying to explain to him that he can't have them.

 

     My children are always with me so doing the shopping when they are with a sitter isn't an option. I will most likely pick angel tags that aren't boys the same age as him. I'm not a mean mom who would stuff the cart with the coolest Hot Wheels toys and army men and then say you can't have them! It will be hard enough for a 4 year old brain to except in the first place!

 

     I have been praying that the Lord will help him understand and help me with it. I hope if he can get used to giving at such a young age that it will be easier as he gets older and that he and my younger children will have hearts for it.



Pregnancy #3

     I started this blog over the summer, wrote for about a month or so, then stopped for a couple of months. Well, I had a very good reason. We found out we are expecting baby #3! I was very under the weather through the first trimester and couldn't find time to blog. I also didn't feel right attempting to sit down and right a blog post when my house and family were being so neglected. (Kudos to the moms with several children who manage to do it all. Kudos!)
     I'm 17 weeks now and starting to feel better so hopefully I can get back to writing at least one post a week. This pregnancy has definitely been harder so far than my previous two. Nausea lasted longer and was harder than before. Ginger ale, saltine crackers, and Preggie Pops kept me semi-functional for about 14 weeks.
     We also had a real scare at about 9 weeks. That Saturday morning I started bleeding very heavily and was certain I had miscarried. I went in for an ultrasound that Monday, and the baby was still there! To say I was shocked was an understatement. I really hadn't had any hope all weekend. I knew with God all things are possible, but I just wouldn't let myself be hopeful and then have my hopes shattered. Turns out, I had passed two VERY large blood clots. My doctor was as suprised as I was. She said if it hadn't been for ultrasound proof, she was sure I had miscarried as well.
     I look forward to sitting down and writing about the things that are on my mind and heart. Hopefully, I'll get the first one up in a couple of days. God bless!

Raising Boys to be Masculine

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Raising boys is a very special job. I'm honored that God would see fit to bless me with two little guys to mold and teach to hopefully one day become soldiers for His word.

It's very important to me that they embrace their "boyhood". The world is feminizing our little boys and teaching little girls to be more masculine.

I remember seeing a J.Crew ad with the company's president and her little boy. She had painted his toenails pink and stated that she was lucky her son enjoyed it. While conservatives tried to slam the ad, mainstream media declared "So what? It's just painting his nails." I don't think so.

There have been a couple of times in the past when my oldest has walked into the room when I was painting my nails. He stuck his hand out like he wanted his painted too. I told him, "No. This is something that girls like to do. Little boys and big strong men like Daddy don't paint their nails." He accepted this and went on his way. He was simply a three year old interested in what his mother was doing at the time.

Notice how I told him about his "big strong Daddy"? I tell him all the time that he needs to finish eating so he can be big and strong like Daddy. Little boys naturally want to be just like their dad. I often ask him, "Can you please help me move this laundry basket? I need somebody big and strong to help me and Daddy is at work?" He comes running to help me and tells me how strong he is and shows me his muscles. He'll often tell me, "I'm big and strong like Daddy" or "I'm big and strong like Papaw." He wants to be manly.

I also want my boys to have a clear picture of a feminine woman. I want them to see growing up that a woman can embrace feminity and enjoy it. There is clear gender distinction in our home. Their dad is the bread winner while their mom is the bread baker. Daddy does the outside work while Mama cares for the things of the home.

Daddy also wears the pants, figuratively and literally. I don't demean my husband or talk badly about him to our sons. I have heard lots of women complaining to their kids about their father. This is a definite way to go to get your kids to disrespect him and not want to be like him. Kids will learn as they get older that Mama and Daddy are not perfect; we don't need to point out these imperfections to their little minds that are soaking up EVERYTHING.

Wearing modest dresses and skirts around our my boys is giving them a physical picture of a feminine woman. I'm not saying there's no way to be feminine in a pair of pants, but I don't know anyone who will argue that a woman looks more feminine and tends to act more feminine in a skirt. I can bake a cake or play catch in a dress. I can do laundry or play on the floor with Hot Wheels in a skirt. I can stay girly and do these things with my sons despite what the world says.

They say, "It takes a village to raise a child." I've seen the village, even been a part of it, and I definitely don't want it raising my boys. If we ever have a daughter, I won't want it influencing her either. The most important lessons they will learn for life come from right here at home.